Every weekend just before 10.45am, a lanky teenager used to get out of his dad’s car on the Pillgwenlly playing fields, shivering but ready to put on the goalkeeper’s gloves for Pill AFC.

Standing on the touchline in south Wales, his dad would take pride of place in his wellies, screaming encouragement onto the field.

Join the Sunday Mercury reporting team live from the press box at Wembley tomorrow at 1.30pm.

Our boys will be bringing you match updates and banter throughout the game at www.sundaymercury.net.live - become part of our rolling match report and just type away!

James Collins is 26 now, but today his dad will be watching again.

He won’t need his wellies, though. He’ll be sat in the ‘posh’ seats at Wembley as his son lines up at centre-half for Aston Villa against Manchester United in the League Cup Final.

Collins started his footballing journey as a goalkeeper and it wasn’t until he was 14, at the Newport Soccer School of Excellence, that he became bored and decided to try an out-field position.

He took to it like a duck to water and has never looked back.

Collins comes from a close working-class family, six in total with brothers Josh and Simon and sisters Sarah, Melissa and Olivia.

But it was Josh who had most impact on his fledgling career.

“Josh helped me with my game hugely,’’ Collins says. ‘‘We used to practice together whenever possible and, although we are three years apart, we were joined at the hip.

“Maybe helped a little by my dad and Simon’s love for rugby!”

Collins’ life has changed dramatically since being handed a five-year professional contract at Cardiff aged just 16 by then manager Alan Cork and ex-Wales boss Bobby Gould, who deserve credit for seeing the potential he had.

But he is also full of praise for Lennie Lawrence, who helped his development as a player, and former team-mates Danny Gabbidon and Robert Earnshaw.

“Gabbs, Earnie and I were and still are very close. We grew up together at Cardiff and became top mates. But we also had a healthy rivalry where we pushed each other and challenged ourselves every day.

“I have no doubt this helped all of us grow as players immensely.”

Collins’ social circle has changed quite a bit of course with playing at the highest level but he will do everything he can do help his career – even if it means going straight home to his wife, Samantha, and not having a pint with his mates.

Brought up to have good manners and respect for others, he is still the same level-headed, funny, bad dressing lad he was in school. He hasn’t let fame (or his high wages) change him. Which is testament to himself and his family.

“I don’t put myself in compromising positions,” he said. “And now I am getting older, I do watch what I eat and drink more because I want to play at this level for as long as I can.

“There is a time and a place to enjoy yourself and let your hair down, but football comes first.”

Collins never takes football for granted and he remembers the times when he doubted himself.

“My first year as a YTS at Cardiff was hard because other players were better technically, and more developed physically,’’ he admits.

“Signing the five-year deal was a major turning point for me. It showed others had as much faith in me as I had in myself, which is so important as a youngster.”

The season he left Cardiff was the major turning point in his career, having been selected in every Championship game by Lawrence.

Reflecting on his big-money move to West Ham, he says: “To play every game in any team is an achievement, but aged 20 playing that regularly in the Championship made me.

‘‘It gave me so much confidence and made me a stronger player, both mentally and physically.”

In a very successful career so far, which has also seen him become an international regular with Wales, his only regret was not playing for the Hammers in the spectacular FA Cup Final against Liverpool.

“That is one which still hurts. Not just losing the final, but personally not playing because I played a lot building up to it and it was a bitter pill to swallow.”

Collins now has a chance to put the disappointment of his last final behind him by beating favourites United this afternoon.

“We have such a good squad and team spirit at Villa and to play for a manager as well respected as Martin O’Neill, who is world renowned for his managerial excellence, is a huge motivation for me.”

Villa may be slight underdogs as they go into the final, but Collins is used to having that tag.

Don’t be surprised if he leaves Wembley with the Carling Cup... and a proud smile from his dad.